This thread is for helping others understand the early history and heritage of new and old breeds.
If you have any information about the origins of any breeds, post about it here - don't worry about boring everyone with details, that's what this thread is for: Boring everyone with details!
Also, if you know of any future breed plans or development, (if it's not top secret) we'd like to hear about them.

Breed in Development: Snyder
This is an amazing breed, seemingly novelty, but incredibly practical.
Snyder fowl were originated by a friend of mine from true Araucanas, CXs, Transylvanians, and Brahmas in southern Ontario in the early 2000's, and were almost produced, except, before any of the 'goal' stock were able to be hatched, the only existing cocks were killed, and the breed is now going to lose much of it's original type, and it may be a while before it's ever the same again. The breed was supposed to look Ostrich-like (I predict that some may come to call it the 'Ostricken') being naked necked, rumpless, laying blue eggs, and having incredibly small wattles and a tight-fitting Peacomb. Unfortunately, no birds like these have been produced as of yet. The birds that have been produced carried half genes for most traits, and no birds carrying 'pure' naked-necks have been produced.

Breed Origin: Bessemer
The ducks that frighten geese.
Nobody knows how this astonishing strain of Orpington came into being, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. It originated near Toronto, Ontario, nobody knows when. It is quite probable that the strain first arose from 'pond ducks' (mutts; the mallard equivelent of barnyard chickens), or may have been originated unwhittingly by someone. The breed appears in Buff, although their version of Buff seems to be slightly different from true Orpingtons. They weigh in at nearly 14 lbs., and equal Jumbo Pekins for visual size and mass, although I haven't eaten any Bessemers to find out how they rank with the meat part. They are very loose feathered.

Breed in Development: Bow Lake
A hardy, broody, rather large bantam landrace.
These have been around for quite sometime in the lowlands of the Opeongo mtns in Central Ontario, but I say 'breed in development', because even though, unlike the Snyder, true 'final' birds have been produced, they, like the Snyder, are now so rare they need to be outcrossed. The type is quite unique, very stocky (amazing breast meat), long-ish legged, brush-legged, squirrel tailed, Cochin bantam-sized, and quite an selection of very hard to find colors (English Partridge, Speckled White, Willow). Again, no one knows how this breed was breed, although, we can make some accurate guesses: OEGB, Serama, d'Uccle, and Aseel. This breed may have to be bred out to Phoenix, or larger OEGBs.

Breed being Planned: Alderslea
The big Call that lays like a Campbell.
This is a breed being planned and origination is supposed to start in 2012 to raise the size of Call ducks, crossing with Harlequins, Campbells, and later small-strain Orpingtons. The breed is expected to reach it's final form in 2015.

Breed Origin: Kraienkoppe
The Leghorn disguised as an Oriental.
This breed originated in Germany across the latter half of the 1800's, and is basically a cross between Orientals (like Malays) and Mediteraneans (like Leghorns). It was first found in Duckwing patterns, although I think solid colors also exist now. The Kraienkoppe (pronounced Cry - En - Cope - Uh) has a leghorn-like type, with a tight-fitting Strawberry comb. It lays quite well.

Breed Origins: Hamburg, Bolton, Redcap and OEP
The giant Rosecombs.
The latter three are of English origin, but the Hamburg hails from Turkey, and is a Landrace. The Hamburgs are fisrt recorded in 1600 by Aldrovandi, and was refered to as a 'Turkish hen'. The Hamburgs we have nowadays are different than the original turkish hens, but that's getting ahead of the story. First we go back to England and see the Lancashire Pheasant, another ancient Landrace, actually bearing similar traits to the Turkish hens. Around the turn of the century (c.1900), Turkish hens reached England and were 'absorbing' the Lancashire into themselves (like how the Swedish duck absorbed most Orpington ducks in america), and the Hamburg came to be (the Bolton was the original name for the Penciled varieties). In quick defence of the original Lancashire, breeders began protecting the breed, keeping it true to type, although it's former name would be conceded to the name 'Old English Pheasant' (OEP). The Redcap was at the time a strain of Lancashire known as the Derbyshire Pheasant (this name would be changed over the years to Derbyshire Redcap). All of these breeds and strain carry rosecombs.

Breed being Planned: Bessemer (chicken)
A hardy little egg maker.
This is a breed I'm working on, crossing Leghorns, Welsummers, Hamburghs and Phoenix to form a very hardy, prolific breed. I expect final specimens to hatch in 2014, although, I'm not sure how well the egg-color genetics will have smoothened out by then. I want it toe have similar characteristics to the Dorking, except for meat qualities.

Quote:Yes, with some 900 breeds of chickens, 100 ducks, 50 geese, 50 turkeys, 100 pigeons, and 20 peafowl, and probably at any given time more than 50 breeds on the way, there is no shortage of breeds to cover. Right after I finish the reply, I'm doing an Orpi/Aussie post....